The group received a small grant in 2009 to direct private and public attention to change in land-use practice in the neighborhoods in the shore of Mill Cove and Conimicut Point and further increase the efficiency in using land trust tools.
Mill Cove Conservancy
Our Purpose
to preserve the banks and land/beach surrounding Mill Cove, Buckeye Brook, Shawomet (Conimicut) Marsh and to improve the quality of water in Narragansett Bay. We would like to direct private and public attention to change in land-use practice in our neighborhoods on the shore of Mill Cove and Conimicut Point and eliminate and further development within 200 feet of the water. Our mission is also to call attention to the vast wildlife we are fortunate to attract to our area because we are so diligent in maintaining the natural habitat necessary to preserve their healthy habitat and give them the sanctions they need to survive.
Summary of Projects
In 2004, support was used to increase the efficacy in using land trust tools to meet organizational objectives of converting private open space to public open space. As the group converted to a Land Trust in 2003, the challenges include learning the tools, adapting them to Mill Cove's situation and informing and 'persuading' the public.
In 2003, the group used grant money to meet legal expenses incurred in restoring Mill Cove as a healthy estuary by fighting the rash of speculative development of Mill Cove lots and by providing lot owners with options that would result in turning private vacant lots into public open space. The group focused on learning "how to be effective as proactive citizens in local and state regulatory matters rather than cynical reactionaries.' Some grant funding was used to transform the organization into a working land trust.
Mill Cove Conservancy received a grant in 2002 to (partially) support the legal costs associated with efforts to preserve land on the shore of Mill Cove and to change local practice in granting variances that make established public policy meaningless.